Improved Chassis for a Heavy Vehicle

This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102022000008069 filed on Apr. 22, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention concerns an improved chassis, in particular for a heavy vehicle.

The present invention is preferably although not exclusively applied in a heavy vehicle such as a military vehicle. Reference will be made below to said application by way of example.

Heavy vehicles such as military vehicles have to be reconfigured to accommodate cabs of different shape or type, according to the required use.

In particular, said cabs can require a different suspension system with respect to the side members of the chassis.

In this case, if the suspension system has to be altered, the side members have to be re-designed.

This re-design increases production costs and times as a different chassis has to be provided according to the type of cab scheduled for use.

There is therefore a need for chassis for heavy vehicles, in particular for military use, that can be used on different types of cab without increasing the vehicle production costs.

The object of the present invention is to meet the above needs in an optimized inexpensive manner.

The above-mentioned object is achieved by a chassis and a vehicle as claimed in the attached claims.

1 In the attached figures the numberindicates overall a chassis for a heavy vehicle, such as a military vehicle, in two different vehicle configurations.

1 2 2 2 2 2 2 a b In both vehicle configurations, the chassiscomprises a pair of side members, specifically a right-hand side memberand a left-hand side member, extending parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the vehicle and in particular symmetrically thereto. Each side membertherefore defines a first front end′ and a second rear end″ along the longitudinal axis A.

2 2 3 4 4 3 Advantageously, each side memberhas a C-shaped section facing the respective side memberand essentially comprising a vertical wall, substantially perpendicular to the ground, and a pair of walls′,″ extending cantilevered from the vertical wall, preferably perpendicular to it and parallel to each other.

4 4 3 In detail, the walls′,″ extend cantilevered from terminal ends of the vertical wall.

1 5 2 According to the invention, the chassiscomprises an extension systemconnected to both the side membersso as to provide anchoring points for different vehicle cabs, in particular to different suspension systems for said cabs and to relative steering systems of the vehicle.

5 2 2 6 6 2 In further detail, the extension systemis fixed to the front end′ of the side membersand comprises a pair of lateral portions. The lateral portionsare advantageously each fixed to one of the side members, in particular outside the space laterally comprised by the latter, namely facing the outside.

4 FIG. 6 2 7 3 2 8 8 7 In detail, as better illustrated in, each lateral portionhas a C-shaped section facing the opposite side with respect to the side memberto which it is fixed and comprising essentially a vertical wall, substantially parallel to the wallof the side member, and a pair of walls′,″ extending cantilevered from the vertical wall, preferably perpendicular to it and parallel to each other.

7 6 In particular, the vertical walldefines a plurality of openings suitable for fixing the lateral portionto the respective side member, for example by means of threaded elements.

8 6 4 2 8 6 4 2 7 3 2 Advantageously, the lower wall′ of each lateral portionis substantially parallel to the lower wall′ of the respective side member. On the other hand, preferably the upper wall″ of each lateral portionis vertically superior to the upper wall″ of the respective side member, in other words, the vertical wallhas a greater vertical extension than the vertical wallof the respective side member.

6 7 3 2 2 2 6 Each lateral portionextends longitudinally so that the respective vertical wall, for over half of its longitudinal extension, faces the respective vertical wallof the side memberand for the remaining portion extends beyond the front portion′ of the side member, thus defining a free portion′.

6 2 5 9 6 6 6 In particular, said free portion′ has a tapered shape, namely, preferably, it has a lesser vertical extension as it moves longitudinally away from the side membersuntil reaching a minimum at the end. In particular, the reduction of the vertical extension is substantially linear on the edge facing the ground. The extension systemalso comprises an end elementconnecting the lateral portionsto each other, in particular the free portions′ of the lateral portions.

9 9 9 9 6 6 In detail, the end elementextends crosswise to the longitudinal axis A and comprises a central portion′ and a pair of end portions″ with respect to the extension thereof. The end flanges″ are advantageously configured as flanges suitable for being fixed to the free portions′ of the lateral portionsso as to connect the latter to each other.

9 5 20 30 11 Advantageously, the central portion′ is shaped as a quadrangular section and advantageously formed as a box element. As mentioned above, the extension systemis configured to support different suspension configurations,for a vehicle cab and a steering systemfor the same.

20 30 11 13 6 5 6 In both the suspension configurations,, the steering systemcomprises a steering mechanism, not further described, since it can be made in any way, fixed to the lateral portionsof the extension system, advantageously on the respective free portions′.

13 12 7 6 8 8 In particular, the steering mechanismis fixed by means of a hubrigidly carried, for example via threaded means, by the respective vertical wallof the lateral portionand extending cantilevered from it in a transverse direction beyond the extension of the end walls′,″.

1 3 FIGS.to 20 illustrate a first configuration of a suspension systemfor cab applicable to the chassis according to the invention.

20 21 22 7 6 In this configuration, the suspension systemcomprises frontally a hinge elementcarried by a bracketfixed integrally to the vertical wallof the lateral portion.

22 22 8 6 21 In particular, the bracketis shaped so as to define a support wall′ which is advantageously aligned with the upper wall″ of the lateral portionand sized to allow fixing of the hinge element.

20 24 23 2 The suspension systemcomprises at the rear a bridge elementcarried via the use of bracketson the side members.

23 23 2 3 23 24 In particular, the bracketscomprise a fixing portion′ which is configured to be fixed, outside the space delimited by the side members, on the vertical wallof one of the aforementioned and an end portion″ configured to allow fixing of the bridge element.

23 3 4 2 23 In particular, the fixing portion′ extends vertically partly facing the vertical walland partly above the upper wall′', namely above the side members. In particular, the bracketstherefore have an inverted L shape with respect to the ground.

24 24 24 24 The bridge elementcomprises an intermediate portion′ extending crosswise relative to the longitudinal axis A of the vehicle and a pair of vertical portions″ extending substantially perpendicular to the ground. Therefore the bridge elementhas substantially a U shape with the opening facing the ground.

20 25 24 The rear portion of the suspension systemcomprises in particular a rocker elementmovably supported by the bridge elementand configured to cooperate with the vehicle cab.

25 25 25 26 25 24 In particular, the rocker elementis connected at a central portion′ thereof to the vehicle cab whereas at respective terminal portions″ it is connected by damping means, such as hydraulic cylinders, interposed between said end portions″ and the bridge element.

25 27 25 24 24 27 The rocker elementis also connected by means of a Panhard bar, operatively interposed between one of the end portions″ and the bridge element, advantageously with respect to the central portion′ thereof. As known per se, the baris interposed crosswise, inclined with respect to the vertical, between the above-mentioned elements in a plane defined by a vertical axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis A.

5 7 FIGS.to 30 illustrate a second configuration of a suspension systemfor cab applicable to the chassis according to the invention.

30 31 33 The suspension systemcomprises, at the front, a support plateconfigured to be connected to the vehicle cab and carried in a suspended manner with respect to a flange.

33 7 6 6 12 11 The flangeis fixed to the vertical wallof the lateral portion, advantageously at the free end′ of the latter and is shaped to laterally surround on one side, frontally and at the top the hubof the steering system.

31 32 31 32 34 32 33 In particular, the plateis connected to a hinge elementsuitable for allowing the rotation of a lower end portion of the platearound an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis A. In particular, the hinge elementis carried by damping means, advantageously comprising a spring-damper system, operatively interposed between the hinge elementand a portion of the flange.

30 35 32 31 The suspension systemfurther comprises a torsion barhinged with respect to the hinge elementand configured to connect to each other the platesof each side member so as to compensate for relative torsion loads imparted by the cab.

35 33 38 35 33 One end of said torsion baris also connected to the flangeby means of an oscillating armpreferably hinged at a first end to the torsion barand at a second end to the flange.

30 24 2 36 36 36 1 3 FIGS.to The rear portion of the suspension systemis similar to the one described for the configuration of, namely it is made with an analogous bridge element. However, the latter is carried on the chassisby means of bracketswhich comprise relative fixing′ and support″ portions.

36 1 3 FIGS.to In said configuration the support plate″ is carried vertically above at a height greater than the configuration ofand therefore support ribs are provided having larger dimensions.

1 40 50 60 2 2 a b The chassisalso comprises a plurality of cross members,,operatively interposed to connect the right-hand side memberand the left-hand side memberin a transverse direction relative to the extension thereof along the longitudinal axis A.

1 40 60 50 40 60 In the embodiment illustrated, the chassiscomprises a front cross member, a rear cross memberand an intermediate cross memberlongitudinally comprised between the front and rear cross members,.

40 2 2 5 The front cross memberis advantageously fixed to the side membersat the end portion of their front portion′ so as to provide sufficient rigidity or further fix the extension system.

40 40 40 2 40 Advantageously the front cross membercomprises a central portion′ and a pair of end portions″ suitable for allowing connection with the side members. In particular the central portion′ has a circular section and cylindrical shape along its extension in the transverse direction.

40 40 4 2 4 2 40 The end portions″ are shaped so that the central portion′ is lowered with respect to the lower edge′ of the side members. In particular the end portions have a squared Z shape so that a portion thereof is in contact with the lower edge′ of the side memberand a portion extends below it to support the central portion′.

60 2 60 60 60 2 60 60 60 The rear cross memberis advantageously fixed to the side membersin their rear portionand comprises a central portion′, a pair of end portions″′ suitable for allowing connection with the side members, and an intermediate portion″ connecting the end portions″′ and the central portion′.

60 60 4 2 In particular the central portion′ has a circular section and cylindrical shape along its extension in the transverse direction. Furthermore, advantageously, the central portion′ is positioned vertically below the lower edges′ of the side members.

60 3 2 60 60 60 60 60 The end portions″′ are advantageously shaped as flanges suitable for allowing the fixing thereof with the respective vertical wallsof the side members. Consequently the connection portions″ are inclined relative to the vertical direction so as to connect the end portions″′ with the central portion′. Advantageously the connection portions″ also have a circular section, preferably equal to that of the Central portion′.

50 2 20 24 51 2 The intermediate cross memberis advantageously fixed to the side membersat the rear portion of the suspension system, namely of the bridge element, and comprises a fixing bracketconfigured to be fixed laterally to the outside of each of the side members.

1 4 3 51 4 The fixing bracketis shaped so as to define a seat for a rotatable element, for example a seat suitable for being engaged by a rotating shaft or a bush, below the lower edge′ but on a plane parallel to the vertical wallof the side members, and comprises a connection portion′ extending vertically below the lower edge′.

52 51 51 52 The intermediate cross member further comprises a central portionconnected to the fixing bracketsby means of the connection portions′. Advantageously the central portionis shaped as a plate parallel to the ground. Advantageously the intermediate cross member is made in one single piece.

The operation of the embodiment of the chassis and vehicle according to the invention described above is the following.

1 20 30 Once assembled, the chassisis particularly rigid and can withstand forces and moments acting in any direction with respect to the longitudinal, transverse and vertical direction, and allows the assembly of cabs in various configurations according to the three-point support defined by the suspension systems,.

20 24 21 30 24 In particular, in the suspension systemthe bridge elementmore effectively withstands the damping loads since frontally the cab is fixed directly to the hinge elementswhereas in the suspension systemthe bridge elementcooperates with the damping elements provided in the front part, guaranteeing a higher cab and greater comfort.

From the above, the advantages of a chassis and a vehicle according to the invention are evident.

Thanks to the extension system according to the invention, it is possible to install different cabs, requiring different suspension systems, in a simple inexpensive manner.

In particular, the extension system can be optimised for the specific front suspension without having to modify the side members used which can be of standard type for different vehicle configurations.

Said extension system, which can be customised according to the different vehicle configurations, can be fitted with different suspension and steering systems, thus saving time and costs in production of the vehicle.

In particular, the extension of the hub from the extension system so as to be vertically free from obstructions allows the installation of various vehicle configurations.

Lastly, it is clear that modifications and variations that do not depart from the protective scope defined by the claims can be made to the chassis and the vehicle according to the present invention.

For example, the forms of the side members and of the extension system and their relative position can be varied according to the type of cab to be connected to the chassis.

Again, the steering system could be absent and the suspension systems can be of various type.

Similarly, the form and number of transverse elements can be varied.